Tide-power device.



J. HALL, JR.

TIDE POWER DEVIGE.

APPLICATION rum) DEO.9,1908.v

926,408. Patented June 29, 1909.

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JOHN HALL, JR, OF WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

TIDE-POWER DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 9, 1908.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Serial No. 466,644.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HALL, J r., a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at West Springfield, in the county of Hampden andState of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inTide-Power Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in tide powers and theparticular feature of the improvement lies in the utilization of therising and falling of the tides, whereby the difference of leveloccasioned thereby can be utilized to subject a confined volume of airto compression, and after the air has been compressed by the flood tideto utilize the same for operating motors of various kinds.

Broadly considered, the invention consists in providing an invertedtumbler-shaped member, the open ends being downward, for receiving thein-flow of water, the upper portion of said member having connectedthereto a pipe for conveying the compressed air to a suitable motor.

It is understood that during the ebb tide a vacuum will be produced inthe inverted tumbler-shaped member whereby the motor may be operated asa vacuum machine.

In the drawings forming part of this application,Figure 1 shows thetumbler or cylindrical shaped member in an inverted position, and meansfor securing the same against movement from this position, alsoindicating in conventional form a motor with suitable pipe connectionsbetween the valvechest of the motor and the upper portion of thecylindrical-shaped member. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View on the line22, Fig. 1, showing the openings arranged through the lower portion ofthe cylindrical element for the admission of water.

Referring to the drawings in detail,a designates a cylindrical invertedtumblershaped member, the lower portion of which is embedded in a blockb of concrete or other suitable material for providing a firm foundationfor this member.

0 designates openings for permitting the water to enter the interior ofa casing.

d designates piles driven into the bed of a body of water, andconnecting the same at the upper end thereof is a timber or otherframework e for supporting a weight of any suitable kind for holding theframework down.- This weight is designated by means of the rocks orstonesf. s

The upper end of the casing a is threaded for receiving an outlet pipe 1that is provided with a shut-off valve 7L, and leading from this valveis a pipe i that extends to a valve-chest of a motor 7c.

The low water level is indicated at m and high water or flood tide at 0.

Although the drawings show only a single inverted cylinder or casing itis evident that a plurality of them may be employed with suitable pipeconnections leading from one to another, whereby the combined effect ofseveral cylinders may be obtained for operating the motor.

Referring now briefly to the operation of my improvement: It should beunderstood that the shut-off h is closed when the water is at low tide,and as the water level rises within the casing, the air that is confinedin the space between low water level and the top of the casing will beplaced under pressure, the degree of pressure being determined by theamount that the water rises.

Admission to the interior of the cylinder is, as readily understood,through the openmg 0.

When the water reaches the level indicated at 0, the shutoff valve h isopened allowing the compressed air to flow through the pipes g and 'i tothe motor 7c for operating the same.

The motor will continue to work as long as the pressure of the airwithin the casing is greater than the atmospheric pressure, and afterthe two pressures are equal the valve It is closed; then as the waterrecedes or falls back to low tide a vacuum will be produced within thecasing, as readily understood. Upon opening the valve h again, the motorcan be operated as a vacuum motor, the vacuum in the cylinder causing adifference inpressure on the other side of the piston whereby the pistonwill move under the differences of pressure, as readily understood.

IVhat I claim, is

1. A tide power device having in combination, an inverted cylindricalmember, means for securing said member in position on the bed of a bodyof water, the lower end of the casing being provided with inlet openingsand normally below low water level, the

upper end of the casing having a pipe eon; nection leading to a suitablemotor; and a shut-off in the pipe eonnection.-

2. A tide power comprising an inverted casing having an inlet opening inits lower portion, a pipe connection leading to the i terio of he c singa anged in th upper part of the same, a shut-0E in the pipe connection,means for securing the casingagainst movement, whereby When the shutofiis. closed. the Wa er leve in the easing changes from low-tide to hightide, the volume of air confined therein will be placed under pressure,and, when the 1 is closed and the Water level changes from 15 high tolow tide a vacuum Will be produced inthe inverted casing, as described.

JOHN HALL, JR.

\Vitnesses:

K. I. CLEMoNs, HARRY BQWEN.

